New NIH Committee to Coordinate Pain Research Activities

A new committee appointed yesterday by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will coordinate pain research activities across the federal government with the goals of stimulating pain research collaboration, fully leveraging the government resources dedicated to supporting pain research, and providing an important avenue for public involvement.

The Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee members include leading federal officials, including an individual from the Rehabilitation Research and Development Service at the Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Research and Development; 6 nonfederal scientists; physicians; other health professionals; and 6 members of the general public who are representatives of leading research, advocacy, and service organizations. Appointees include organizations that advocate for people with fibromyalgia, chronic vulvar pain and related pain disorders, and peripheral neuropathies.

Created through the Affordable Care Act, the committee also will explore public-private partnerships to broaden collaborative, cross-cutting research, and consider best practices in disseminating information about pain to public and professional audiences.